How To Make Money In College Without A Job

It might sound impossible to most, but making money in college without a job isn’t too far-fetched as one would think, legally too I might add.

This does take a little more creativity and grit than having the typical “day job”, but if done correctly you should see great results and have a flexible schedule to fit your school around. (being why you’re probably here in the first place, or to party, whichever one.)

(being why you’re probably here in the first place, or to party, whichever one.)

Learning how to make money in college without a job can be anything from having to learn a new skill to just using a dead asset (something of value you weren’t using), to flat out getting creative…

…and I’m going to try and cover as many as I can with some added training and tips to get you started.

I did it myself and still until this day have ideas I wish I could have pursued but didn’t get too, so maybe my missed opportunities can become your next ventures???

How To Make Money In College Without A Job

We’re going to be breaking this into two categories

Online

Offline/Getting Creative

Simple right? On top of this, I’ll also be offering so further in-depth articles to further the lists if you need some more inspiration…

…and like I said earlier, some training for some of those “learned skills” just because.

(I’m going to stick to most of the heavy hitters, things I think can seriously be something or help you, I would rather the list be smaller and offer additional resources rather than jam useless info. in here just so my list can go from a top 8 or 10 to a 30. (practically every blog out there))

Online Money Making Opportunities

Selling Online (There’s More Than You Think)

I’m sure you’ve probably heard it time and time again, but there’s no way I can leave out one of the most viable source’s of online income out.

…and there’s more than one way to do it.

You have the heavy hitter (bigger investment with big potential/ higher risk)

Private labeling (building a physical products brand)

You have the intro (smaller investment with scalable potential/ typically lower risk)

I Just Need Temporary Cash…

Well, it’s about as simple as it gets here, this is if you are just looking to flip for some quick cash maybe for books, rent, or you just have no money to spend in the first place.

Look around and find things you don’t use or can live without (the more serious the situation, the more you can live without it).

Ever heard the expression, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”? This couldn’t be more true, just because you have no use for it doesn’t mean someone else could.

Some great places to sell your stuff online:

PoshMark– A relatively new app (at least at the writing of this article) where you can sell clothing and accessories all through their online store. (it’s kind of like a craigslist but less creepy and you don’t have to meet the person to sell it)

Craigslist– Even though you have to be careful when selling things on here (bring someone with you) this can be a great way to sell something locally. (great if the item is too large or bulky to ship)

Swappa– Great for selling smartphones and electronics, just need to go through a quick verification process and get your product approved by Swappa staff (got to make sure your device is legit).

Facebook– Might not be something you first thought of but your buyer might be one simple post away. Can’t hurt to try at least.

Affiliate Marketing

Something you’ve probably heard of or probably haven’t either way, this is a great business model for self-expression, creativity, a little grit, and a low start up cost.

For those of you who haven’t heard of Affiliate Marketing, it’s a form of online marketing where company’s and people use affiliates (you) to market their products in return you get a percentage (commission) of every sale you get them.

Essentially…

You promote product -> Reader buys product you promoted -> Company gets a sale -> You get paid

You do these through affiliate programs where you’re given the tools you need and tracking link to promote a company’s products. (typically through a website you run and content you write)

Still scratching your head? Let’s go through a quick rundown…

Let’s say you’re a fitness buff and decide to promote fitness products, so you create a fitness website and decide to promote fitness supplements.

Utilizing Your Known Skills Online

Straying away from the typical “business model” these are ways you can utilize a skill or ability you have.

First, one being for you creative types…yes you’re drawing skills can be used for more than just entertainment during a boring lecture.

Graphic Design

Graphic design is a great way for you to showcase your skills online for clients.

Good at making designs? You can try your hand at creating logos.

There are tons of people and businesses out there who are trying to become official with their own logo, it’s great for branding, repeatability, and almost expected these days, so the opportunity is there.

They’re an online service provider where creators (you) from all over the world list their services in things like logo creation, social media banner creation, video creation, logos, etc.

The next one up on the list is for you smarty pants…

Start A Tutoring Service

Do you get good grades (at least in one subject), that some people struggle with?

Well, this can be put to good use, even though everyone likes to laugh it off or push it aside, failing a class isn’t fun, especially in college.

It can further the time of your degree, hurt your GPA, and is just a waste of money, so look around for those who look like they might be struggling and offer some tutoring for a fixed price or per hour.

Now let’s get into some offline ideas….(Don’t worry I’ll drop a link to a further extensive list if you need more inspiration)

Offline Money Making Opportunities

To keep myself from repeating myself (I’m going to go over the 4 BEST ideas I think can apply to your potential interests and/or skills.)

Sell Your Notes

Might not be the most glamorous idea out there but hey, if you take good notes, you take good notes, why not share? For a price of course…

Since you’re in college here students can’t be paying an arm and a leg for notes, so keep the price reasonable (around $2-$5 per copy)

Also since just anybody can get a copy of someone else’s notes you want to make sure yours are top notch to keep them coming.

The great thing about this is once you get them written it’s just making copies from there.

Car Detailing

It’s no secret that guys (and some girls) pay more attention to their car/trucks appearance than themselves, but the thing with this is, not everyone likes doing it.

So if you’re someone who loves fixing up and polishing their vehicle, this could be great for you.

All you really need is a parking lot, access to water, and some cleaning supplies and you’re in business.

Party Promotion

This one is a little interesting and is actually more common than you think.

Parties are huge in college and the bigger the better, so why not be the one that puts them on?

If you have a fairly large following on social media and have friends that do also, get together and put the word out, then chip in for the place and whatever food, drinks, musicians, whatever you need.

Charge a set admission fee per attendee and you got something going. Clubs and establishments do it all the time just on a bigger scale, so it’s not a foreign concept.

All you need to worry about is the safety of those who attend (look into any liabilities and cover yourself legally prior to doing this) and ensure you come out in the green.

Makeup/Hair Services

Good at doing makeup and hair? Always getting compliments on the way you look?

Why not start sharing the beauty by offering some hair and makeup services.

Charge per client and post your work on social media and if you’re as good as you think you are than your work should speak for itself.

You’ll be surprised how powerful word of mouth is with a happy client.

About The Author

Tyler

An ex-broke college student turned online business owner, Tyler is a regular poster on Broke College Solutions. Usually taking a more creative approach to making money while in college he is our go-to guy for making money online.